When the 2024 graduates walk across the auditorium stage to accept their diplomas, they will be the first Tyrone class to graduate in the newly renovated space.
Two years of COVID moved graduation outdoors to the school parking lot in 2020 and 2021, and due to the renovation project, the 2023 graduation was held in the gym.
The new auditorium officially opened in November 2023, and since then it has hosted two band and chorus concerts, two community lectures, and the annual spring musical.
“All the feedback I’ve received from students and community members has been very positive. Everyone loves the space,” said Tyrone Band Director David Hock.
Hock and his band students had the honor of giving the first performance in the new auditorium in November.
The first and most important thing that almost everyone mentioned is the improved acoustics of the space.
“There is significantly less house noise from the HVAC units. Before the renovations and when there was no performance going on, it was so noisy in the space that it was difficult to have a conversation with someone just a few feet away without raising your voice,” Superintendent Leslie Estep said.
Hock agreed that he likes the new look of the room, but it’s the acoustics that make the space special.
“It is so much easier to hear performers on the stage and so concerts and performances have become so much more enjoyable for the audience. The improvement in sound is the thing I’m happy about the most,” Hock said.
Another improvement that isn’t obvious to the casual observer, but makes Drama Club adviser Jonathon Holmes happy is the new high-tech lighting and control board.
“We now can include several lighting effects on stage at the same time, which is wonderful,” Holmes said.
Retiring chorus director Laura Harris got to direct her last musical in the new space.
“The students really love the upgrades to the sound and lighting systems, and they also like the technology that’s been added to the space. Audience members from concerts and the musical have commented on how much the acoustics have improved,” Harris said.
The most obvious difference when visitors first enter is the new look of the room, which is much brighter than the old space.
“The space was pretty dark and starting to look dingy before starting the project. Now, with different, newer lighting, ceiling, and lighter casework, the whole room is much cleaner and brighter,” Estep said.
The project cost $4 million dollars. The most expensive part was replacing and relocating the four HVAC units in the ceiling above the seating space to the roof of the middle school next door to keep noise in the auditorium to a minimum.
“I am very pleased with the project. We have received a great deal of positive feedback from the public who continue to say that it was difficult to realize just how much the room needed a facelift until it was done,” Estep said.
One Tyrone student who is especially excited about the new auditorium is senior Bekah Sprankle.
“I practically grew up performing on that stage. I was hard to not have it for so long, but I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out,” Sprankle said.
NOTE: The story originally said that graduation was held outside in 2022. It was held in the auditorium and the story has been updated to reflect this.
